Tag Archives: feedback

Can Effective Communication Skills Get More Out of Our Managers?

This fresh advertisement is suggesting so.  But why is that?
It’s because managers are the ‘hub’ of an office or other organization.  They translate what the top level or C-suite folks who develop or interpret the vision really want (as far as action goes), and then carry out the communications and processes involved in getting the message to the remaining staff.  The manager, including the Human Resources (HR) personnel, supervisors, and often consultants and high level contractors have to truly understand what the higher ups want, and that takes empathy, active listening skills, often the ability to read non-verbal communication (like body language) correctly, and patience.  These are all great communication skills.  Then they must deliver this information to other managers, front-line staff, contractors and other co-workers of some type.  This takes interpersonal skills, conflict management skills, the skill of delegation, giving direction and feedback effectively without offending others, etc.  These are all excellent communication qualities to have.  So – if you think about it – a manager is quite busy talking to many different people all day above, beside and below them, and we didn’t even discuss conversations with suppliers, vendors, clients and whoever else might cross their path!

We all should be glad if we have (or had) a manager who displayed excellent communication skills.  Because as we see here, it’s very complicated, and unfortunately it’s not very common to find a great manager.  If you have one – tell them tomorrow!
If you ARE a manager, what can you do to evaluate your current communication skills and then make them better if needed?  It starts with a good self-assessment, and maybe deep consideration of any recent feedback.

Here is a great article on the importance of communication skills, and you can use this article as a top 10 checklist to help evaluate your current strengths and weaknesses.

https://inlpcenter.org/importance-of-communication-skills/

Best of luck!

72%? Really?

According to one of my favourite magazines for entrepreneurs, PROFIT (OCT’07), 72% of salespeople are either actively seeking or would be open to a new job if they came across one.
The question is why?

Well, from a communication coaching perspective, I would advise managers out there to keep up the kudos and also the “kaizen” for their high-fliers.

It is not enough to just tell them “good job” and then go and spend your efforts helping other less successful employees. Driven salespeople see themselves as self-employed, and will take care of their own self if you do not provide structured feedback, ways to continuously improve (kaizen), and ‘breathing room’ too. A stagnant feeling is an invitation to talk to a recruiter or headhunter.
So have a proper meeting with the successful ‘Super-Sales-Rep’. Ask them what they think of their performance, their personal and professional goals re: company, and yes, areas to work on to be even more successful. in short – talk to them, listen, and provide good feedback and new goals.  It is rare high fliers are in it solely for the money.